Fuel oil burner



Nov. 26; 1940. J. c. REYNOLDS FUEL O-IL BURNER Filed July '7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In Verz for Jame; Gar/-01! if 1940- J. c. REYNOLDS 22,

FUEL OIL BURNER Filed July 7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3' In war: for

Wmen' C'arro 2'! .Egyrzolda Atty.

Patented Nov. 26, 1940 I I Y I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,222,854 I FUEL OIL BUR NEH.

James Carroll Reynolds, Mattoon, Ill. Application July 7, 1938,'Serial No. 217,937 9 Claims. (01; I se-9i This invention is directed to a novel oil burner n the drawings: adapted for liquid vaporizable fuel such as fuel Flg- 1 1s a mole elevation of my comp rner oil, and other petroleum by-product fuels. assembly omittmg, w v any parts of a fur- My invention is also directed to a novel burner nace into which e e P Portion s ou ted fire pot construction in which the air is rotated e s alled- I and passed out in spiral and circular paths; and Fig. 2 is an end elevational view (looking at the in which air draft under which the ignition eleleft of 1) w n the elative posit ons of ments operate said elements will maintain a the wer, motor and oil control valve. t t of decarbonizatiom Fig. 3 is an enlarged crosssectional-view of the Other novel provisions of my invention are burner bOWl and r Dre-heat ng and Separating-lb pointed out in the following objects, specification umts- Y and description. Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the It is an important dbject of my invention to air diverting and rotating unit within the burner provide a novel construction of a burner bowl hOWl- I assembly which causes boththe primary air and ferr n to he drawings, reference numeral 15 secondary air to be inletted and passed through 10 deslsnates a steel s pp r in h r f rming a the area of greatest heat and therein pre-heated Support 011 Which the b wer, o l control Valve before it is used, by contact with center air housand adjacent parts are rested. Said bar is held ing which is maintained at a high temperature at the esired height by s eel bolts H which by th tual fla have their upper ends threaded in corresponding-20 Further novel objects of my invention are: 1y ded apertures in bar l0 and have also (a) provide a n0ve1 burner bowl and draft, threaded thereon-lock nuts l2 for securing the tube assembly in which the introduced air is first Said hOltS rigidly a d a ainst rotation. A flat directed into spiral paths upwardly, whereafter ee supporting Plate is Secured on bar Ill by a portion of said air is turned back and downsuitable bolts a, as sh wn in Fi 2, said sup 25 wardly through spirally downwardly extending Porting plate 14 forming a base on which the passageways to be outletted upon the inside surblower, fuel control level Valve and connected faces of the bottom and side surfaces of the ts a e mounted": burner b A spiral metal fan housing l3 having flanges in (b) provide a novel b and air pre heater l3a is secured to base plate M by suitable bolts construction in which the remaining portion of I31), as shown in Figs. 1 a d Said fan hOuS- V the air is passed out from within the pre-heating ing has relatively large Side open ngs 30 and.

, chamber within the bowl through an annular d n the Opposit Parallel WallS- Metal laterally opening passage at the top of the bowl Plate is removably mounted on fan gli 5 to cause desirable spreading of the flames emit- 0V6! Opening y means of bolts Ilia. A con- 35 ting from th bowl, d l means for adjusting ventional electric motor I6 is securely mounted to the size of said annular air outlet opening. Said plate l5 y ea s of a plurality Of metal (c) To provide a novel construction within connecting le ves p e e ab y four in numthe burner bowl which will introduce the prit t WhICh have e d 0f ach thereof mary air into thebottom of the burner w to secured in the motor'housmg. The opposite ends 40 cause such draft of air to maintain the interior of Sam Sleeves abut the plate and m of the bowlsubstantially free from carbonization. mogably secured by means of bolts (d) To provide a method of ignition which he Shaft of 9 Pmlects into fanhousing [3, as shown in Fig. 2 and a klndles a 510W thls m Q P W1 blower type rotary fan I9 is mounted removably novel structural features permitting a slow fire. thereon by means of a mounting plate 9a having (6) To provlde an 011 burner apparatus j an apertured and threaded integral mounting ing co tro means blower motor Operatlon plate l9b in which a set screw I90 is threaded and only rin urn n operation on high flame which is adapted to engage the motor shaft l8.

other and further p a t objects of the Securely mounted horizontally across the oppos invention will be apparent from the following site air inlet opening l3d of fan housing l3 is description and claims. a metal apertured cross bar 20 through which a This invention (in one illustrative or preferred bolt 20a extends. An annular apertured airinform), is illustrated in the following description, take adjustor plate 200 is mounted on bolt 20;; specification and drawings. and held in desired position by thumb screw 20b;

Said adjustor plate has relatively large openings therein which are so positioned that rotation of the plate varies the size of said openings to control the volume of air inflow.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, numeral 2! designates a metal oil valve housing having a removable drain and cleanout piug am. Said oil valve housing has an integral apertured flange 25d by which said housing is secured to base plate I4 by means of bolt file. Inlet port Zlc is connected to a suitable fuel supply tank (not shown).

The open end of the spiral fan housing terminates in an integral flange 22 of substantially square cross-section, said flange having a plurality of spaced apart apertures to provide for mounting of a metal draft tube section.23,.preferably of substantially square cross section. Draft tube section 23 has integral aperturedend flanges 23a at each'end, one of whichissecurely bolted against flange 22 by means of bolts 24.

A second metal draft tube section;: :of [equal cross: section. and shown: in .-cross section in Fig. 3,;has ,its integral end-flanget25a 'bolted .to -..end

-flange 23a to form-alight seal. The otherend 25 of tube section 25 is curved so thatthe'opening .lies in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal ;:3X1S.-Of the tube-section. .-An integralzapertured flange 26-forr end of atube section 25 provides smeans whereby said tube-section is bolted by ;.bolts-25d to; the bottom. 21a .of. burner 'bowl 27.

"Certain of the bolts 25d pass through suitable raperturest 25b formed. .in the end portion of tube section-r25 and diametrically opposite to; flange 26. The bent portion of tube section 25 has an apenture fic therein ,for the 'mounting of "the lower end of :a bolt 28 which. issecured=therein .by -.a suitable .nut, as;shown in-Fig. 3.

.AS Ei11'L1StIa.t ed inFig. 3,-numeral-2'l designates thegc'up-shapedmetal fire potor burnerbowl I preferably; -cast in*one.-piece and whose annularaside wall converges graduallyinwardly .;.to form-,ameduced upper opening deflned'by-annular periphery 21a. .Burner bowl 2'! has an apertured--thread ed flange 21b formedz -integral with=;.the bottom thereofin whichdsUthreaded-a .supporting'leg bolt :29 which is securedin deasired;position by. lock nut 29a.

Burner bowl 2'! has a central bottoml-opening .ther'eof ,of a size equalhto andin registry with 50, the upper= opening of 'drafttube section 25, 1W1li0h .bottom opening ?b.eing -rdeflned by an annular z-fl-ange' 270 which is part of the bowl bottom.

:rSaid flange 210 forms an annular shoulder with :the bottom, as shown in Fig. 3, thereby providing am annular seat? for the'lower enlarged endof a central cylindrical air housing member -30.

'flhe uppergperiphery of air housing member 30 ..has -;a-.plurality of spaced (apart relatively short --;pins g3le which actas spacerstohold up air roeotator-membertl, thereby forming an annular ..air outlet :space. :Size'of. saidspace may be. ad-

justed as .desired by changing the length of .T'heiibolts 25d also thread intothreaded apertures rformed inthe-lower-end of the air housing -;member3t,zas clearly. shown in Fig. 3, to securely hold-said air housing .member .indesired position.

Ai HITOtatOr member-:3! is an inverted cylindrical l cup-like :metal unitghaving integral :inwardly 70.,extending vannular; flange :3 I a .terminatingxin a -=relatively sharp annular edge 3lb. Theinterior surface of the air rotator=member 3i merges into .a' roundedannular-surface 3lc forming the low- ;er wall of the-flange. ;The size of the .fiange tia 75 is such that its.- annular sharp edge 3 lb extends tube;section 25.

a short distance within the center air housing casting 30, as clearly shown in cross section in Fig. 3. Said air rotator member 3| seats upon and is supported by a plurality of relatively short spaced apart lugs 3Ie which support said member in the position desired and illustrated in the drawings, and so that a part of the upwardly traveling air current would be deflected by the downwardly extending portion of the flange 31a to be directed through annular opening Md and into the spaced apart spiral channels in grooves 32 formed on the interior portion of said air .rotator member 3|, as clearly shown in cross section in Fig. 4. The size of annular opening Sidmay be increased or decreased by shortening or lengthening the lugs 3le. Referring to Fig. 4,

defined by spaced apart spiral and substantially parallel inwardly extending integral vanes or flanges '33 which terminate substantially at the .upper and lower. edges-.otsaid air rotatorzrnemrber, as indicated in :E'ig. 4.

As shownain Figs-33116.4, the .upper end-of air rotator member}! ;is .so .formed that an .an-

=nular. right-anglemgroove .34 :is formed in the upper surfacethereofconcentric 'With the relatively large opening-"rid inthetop-thereof, said :annular groove providing. a seat forthe lower end of upper cylindrical member 35.,- Said cylindri- -cal member-Skis preferably thicker at its upper f -end tonprovide a slightlynarrower or.more;.re-

stricted opening. A plurality of-..meta1pins36, preferably four in. number, are removably seated in spaced .apart apertures, formed-in the upper edge :of the cylindrical .rnemberv 35, these supporting pins-35 being I adapted tossupport. a deflecting bafilerplate- 31 which [is removably. and adjustably .mounted overthe upper opening of cylindrical -1nember35, theperipher-ythereof being supported by. the pins 36. To changethesize of the-annu-lar opening wetbetween .--the. upper edge of passes through a central aperturecin baflle -31,

-.-said upper r end having threaded therein a thumb screw 38. through -the center of the chambersformed by cylindrical member 35 and air housing: member 3ll-and its lower;end passes throughasuitable Said bolt 28 'passes downwardly aperture formed in an integralabossin the draft It isitobenoted that the annular opening designated -.by numeral :36a .-is in substantially the same plane as the -upper annular edge of the burner .bowl '21,. this .being for the :purpose of causing the Hair :forced through .opening 36 to contact, and mix with, the upwardly rising vaporized oil from the lower chambers of the burn- .er bowl 21. I

A pair of spiral metal vanes 50 are secured to the bolt '28 by suitable screws, 5| within the chamber formed by cylindrical air housing 30. It

Due tothe inward projection of the annular fiangea'3lbof air rotator 3l, a portion of said air is deflected :and caused to circulate through the opening 3 l c between the flange 3la and the upper edge of air it will be noted that the spiral channels 32 are the oil body in the bottom of the burner bowl.

cylinder 30 to thence enter the various spiral channels between the inwardly extending vanes 33 of the air rotator member 3|. This causes the air to continue in rotation in a spiral and diagonal direction in which direction it continues to travel as it strikes the bottom of the burner bowl or the fuel oil body therein, and it still continues to rotate in such spiral and longitudinal direction as it travels along the inside walls of the burner bowl 21 to cause a continuous sweeping action of thesaid side walls which prevents undesirable carbonization and carbon accumulation on the interior walls of said burner bowl.

The major portion of the air which is not deilected by the air rotator member travels upwardly through the air cylinder 35 and against baffle plate 31 which directs it in a radial direction to mix it with the upwardly rising mixture of vaporized oil and air from within the burner bowl. This results in a complete and efficient combustion about the rim of the burner bowl and causing a radially and upwardly extending flame.

An important feature and accomplishment of the aforedescribed construction is that the portion of the introduced air which passes through the air housing 30 and thence downwardly through the passage between the air-housing 30 and the air rotator member is substantially preheated by contact with the air housing member 30 and air rotator 3| and such air is therefore substantially heated before contacting the surface of In similar manner, the air which is expelled through the annular opening 3611 between the periphery of bafiie plate 31 and the upper end of air cylinder 35 is likewise pre-heated to a substantial degree before it mixes with the mixture of vaporized oil and air from within the burner bowl.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it is to be noted that metal oil supply conduits 39 and 39a communicatively connecting the outlet of the valve casing 2! with the inlets 40 formed in the bottom of the burner bowl at points substantially diametrically opposite to each other.

Attention is called to the fact that an oil level control valve is mounted within the metal enclosing casing 2|, said valve being operable by'the body of oil in said casing and adapted to maintain the same at an operating depth up to of an inch. The oil from the bottom of said case runs by gravity through a conduit pipe 39, the end of which is communicatively fitted by means of a suitably threaded fitting in the two inlet ports 40 formed in the bottom of the burner bowl 21.

As the respective flames about the ignition coils continue to increase, a continuously increasing area and quantity of the body of oil is raised to its flash point, causing the flame to gradually spread over the entire surface of the oil body. As the aforesaid spirally moving air circulates and travels over the surface of the oil, the mixed air and vaporized oil is caused to move upwardly to the annular opening of the burner bowl defined by the rim 21a of the bowl 21. As the mixed air and oil reaches this opening, the rapidly expelled air which is forced through annular opening 310. in radial directions contacts the mixed air and oil from the bottom of the burner bowl, the consequent mixture igniting to cause a radially directed cup-shaped frame and complete combustion.

'Ihis operation continues until the respective circuits are closed to stop the motor, and consequently the inflow of air, and to'actuate the relay switch which causes a closing of the fuel feedvalve.

When the thermostat is at a predetermined setting, the same will close the switch and drop the oil level valve by means of its relay action, which same relay action breaks the two other circuits through suitable mercoid switches as attached to a relay bar, thus shutting off current to the motor and to the ignition circuits.

A warp finger switch (not shown) is normally in closed position during the relatively short period, namely one and a half or two minutes, during which it closes the circuit to energize the ignition cells. In the said period said warp switch is, by its own warping action, by utilization of a bi-metal element, caused to open and permit the ignition elements to cool and be off.

When the burner is turned off and the heating element in the warp finger is allowed to cool, the switch automatically closes and is then in readiness to heat the ignition elements when the burner is again turned on.

Simultaneous with the closing of said circuit by the operation of said warp finger switch, the relay switch is actuated to close the mercoid switches to connect the electric motor and circuit to start operation of the fan and to cause opening of the oil control valve 2 If in the oil valve housing 21 to permit flow of oil into the burner bowl in the manner hereinbefore described.

I am aware that various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention or any features thereof, and nothing herein shall be construed as limitations upon the invention, its concept or structural embodiment as to the whole or any part thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a liquid fuel oil burner having a power driven blower, a blower housing, a fuel casing and fuel valve therein; a metal burner bowl having a reduced upper opening and a-central air inlet opening;- air conducting draft tubes connecting said blower housing and said burner bowl inlet; oil supply conduits connecting said fuel oil valve housing and the bottom of said burner bowl; means for conducting a portion of the forced air rising to the upper rim of said burner bowl comprising a lower air housing member and an upper air cylinder in alignment with each other and having their adjacent endsspaced apart, an air.

diverting and rotating member having an integral inwardly extending flange extending into the space between the adjacent ends of said air housing member and said upper air cylinder whereby a portion of the upwardly forced air will be defiected by said flange and directed radially and downwardly, the main portion of said air rotating member overhanging said lower air housing member; a plurality of spiral vanes on the interior surface of said air rotatingmember whereby the air diverted by said flange will be directed in spiral paths against the bottom and sides of said burner bowl, and a baffle plate mounted over the outlet of said upper air cylinder to cause the air passing therethrough to be directed radially to be mixed with the oil vapor and air mixture from within the burner bowl.

2. In a liquid fuel oil burner of the vaporizing type, a power driven blower; a blower housing; a fuel casing and fuel valve therein; a metal burner bowl. having a reduced upper openingand a central air inlet openin'gj'air conducting draft tubes connecting: said blower. housing and said burner bowl inlet; oil supply conduits connecting said fuel oil valve housing and: the bottom of, said burner bowl; means for' conducting a portion: of

the forced air rising to the: upper rim of said,

burner bowl: comprising a lower air housing member and an upper air cylinder in alignment with. each. other and having their adjacent ends spaced-v apart; an air diverting, and rotating member having an integral inwardly extending flange extending into the space between the adjacent ends of said air housing member and said upper air cylinderwhereby a portion of the upwardly forced air will bedeflected by said flange, and directed;

" bowl having a reduced upper opening anda central. air inlet opening; air conducting draft tubesconnecting said blower housing and said burner bowlinlet; oil supply conduits connecting said iii)! fuel oil valve housing and the bottom of said burner bowl; means for conducting a portion of the forced air rising to the upper rim of said burner bowl comprising a lowerair housing mem-- ber and an upper' air cylinder in alignment with eachother and having their adjacent ends'spaced apart; a plurality'of spiral baflles mounted in saidlower air housing member; an air diverting and rotating member having an integral inwardly extending flange extending into the space between the adjacent ends of said air housing member and said upperair; cylinder whereby a portion of the upwardly forced air will be deflected by said flange anddireoted radially and downwardly, the main portion of said air rotating member over-hanging said lower air housing member; a plurality of spiral vanes on the interior surface of said air rotating member whereby the air diverted by said flange will be directed in spiral paths: against the bottom and sides of said burner bowl, and a bafile plate mounted over the outlet of said upper air cylinder to cause the air passing therethrough to be directed radially to be mixed with the oil vapor and air mixture from within the burner bowl.

4. A fire pot for oil burning apparatus of the vaporizing type comprising a circular metal bowl having a reduced upper opening and having a central air inlet opening inits bottom, and having oil supply inlet ports in its bottom; a cylindrical air housing member mounted in said bowl over said air inlet opening; spiral vanes mounted in said air housing member; a cylindrical air rotator member over-hanging said air housing member and upper integral inwardly extending flange,

, said flange being mounted above the upper edge of said air housing member, the remainder of said air rotator member over-hanging said air housing member; spacing elements for supporting said air rotating member to provide a restricted annular opening through which the portion of the upwardly traveling air will be diverted through said annular opening and downwardly against the bottom of the burner bowl; an upper air conductive member mounted upon said air rotator member and in alignment with said air housing; member-for conducting the remainder of.;said air upwardlyand an adjustable baffle. plate removably mounted over the. upper air cylinder member and providing an annular air outlet whereby the air passing therethrough will. bedirected radially-to; be mixed-with the oil vapor and air circulating upwardly from within the burner'bowl.

5, A fire pot for an oil burner of the vaporizing type comprising a substantially round burnerbowl having a gradually inwardly-converging wallterminatingin a reduced upper opening and. a central bottom opening forming a forced air inlet port; oil supply inlets-in the bottom ofsaid burner bowl; an air housing member mounted in; said burner bowl concentrically with said inlet air opening; spiral bafiles mounted in said airhousing member; a cylindrical airrotator member having an inwardly extending flange at one end and depending exteriorly of said air housing; member, said flange being mounted above the. upper endof said air housing member and providing a restricted. opening between said flange and said upper edge of said air housing member; supporting elements for holding said air rotator member spaced from said air housing member; a plurality of spiral inwardly extending vanes. ontheinterior of said air rotator member whereby a portion of the upwardly traveling air passing through said opening between said air housing member and air rotator member will be directed and expelled in downward spiral paths along the bottom and sides of the burner bowl; an. air conducting cylinder mounted above said air rotator member and in alignment with said air housing member, and a baffle plate adjustably mounted at the upper end of said air conducting cylinder whereby the. upwardly traveling. air is. expelled. radially and outwardly tobe mixed with the rising oil vapor and air mixture from within the burner bowl.

6. A fire pot for an oil burner of thevaporizing. type comprising. a substantially round burner bowl having a gradually inwardly-converging wall terminating in a reduced upper opening and a central bottom opening forming a forced air inlet port; oil supply inlets in the bottom of said burner bowl, the bottom of saidburner bowl having shallow wells formed therein to provide for mounting of electric ignition elements; an air housing member mounted in said burner bowl concentrically with said inlet air opening; spiral bailles mounted in said air housing member; a cylindricaliair rotator member having an inwardlyexten'ding flange at oneend and depending exteriorly' of said air housing member; supporting elements for holding said air rotator member spaced from said air housing member; a plurality" of spiral inwardly'extending vanes ontheinterior of said air rotator-member whereby a portion of the upwardly traveling air passing through said opening between said, air housing. member and air. rotatormember will be directed and-expelled in downward spiral paths along the bottom and sides of the burner bowl; an air conducting cylinder mounted above said air rotator member and in alignment with said air housing member, and a baffle plate adjustab-ly mounted at the upper end of said air conducting cylinder whereby the upwardly traveling air is expelled radially and outwardly to be mixed with the rising oil vapor and air mixture from within the burner bowl.

7. I-n'afire pot structure for an oil burner of the vaporizing, typegyan annular metal? burner mounted one above the other, the lower thereof being mounted over said central air inlet opening, and the upper thereof being spaced from the upper end of the lower cylindrical member; an air diverting and rotating cylindrical member of a circumference greater than said cylindrical air housing members and having an integral inwardly extending flange; spiral veins on the interior surface of said air rotator member, said annular flange extending into the space between said upper and lower air housing members and being spaced from the upper edge of the lower of said air housing members to provide a restricted annular opening whereby a portion of the upwardly forced air will be diverted by said annular flange through said annular space in a spiral downwardly t the bottom of the burner bowl, and adjustable bafile means for directing the air expelled at the upper end of said upper cylinder members in a radial direction.

8. In a fire pot structure for a fuel oil burner, a burner bowl having a substantially fiat bottom and an air inlet opening in said bottom, and having inwardl converging walls terminating in a reduced upper opening, and having fuel inlet ports in said bottom; a substantially cylindrical air housing member mounted over said central air inlet opening and terminating substantially below the upper rim of said burner bowl; spiral air circulating vanes in said air housing member; an upper air cylinder mounted above said air housing member and spaced therefrom to form an annular wide air outlet opening; a cylindrical air rotator member exterior of said cylindrical housing member and having a portion thereof extending through aid annular opening and projecting into the normal path of upwardly traveling air to cause a portion of the upwardly traveling air to be deflected and diverted into the space between said air housing member and said air rotator member; and a plurality of spiral vanes on the interior of said air rotator member for causing the diverted air to circulate in spiral direction against the bottom and side walls of said burner; and means for adjusting the annular side opening between the upper edge of said air housing member and the inwardly projecting portion of said air rotator member.

9. In a liquid fuel oil burner of the vaporizing and driven blower type, a burner bowl having a cylindrical air housing member in the burner bowl; a substantiall cup shaped air rotator member mounted on and about said air housing member and adapted to divert a part of said up wardly moving air downwardlyalong the exterior of said air housing member; an air cylinder mounted above said air housing member and said air rotator member; and an adjustable baflie at the top of said air cylinder, said bafiie being adapted to direct the air moving upwardly through said air cylinder toward the periphery of said burner bowl. I I

JAMES CARROLL REYNOLDS. 

